Common "Polycythemia Vera" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Polycythemia Vera

Polycythemia vera is a slowly progressive and rare blood cancer where the bone marrow produces a lot of red blood cells. This excess red blood cells thicken the blood and cause the blood to flow slowly. It can cause blood clots that can result in heart attack and stroke.

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Can capsule endoscopy be done in a polycythemia vera patient?

Query: Hello doctor, My uncle is suffering from bleeding through stool and has undergone colonoscopy and endoscopy. But the bleeding location has not been detected. We have been asked to do capsule endoscopy. Should we go for CT abdomen with CT angiography first for diagnosis? The patient has polycythemia ...  Read Full »


Dr. Vivek Chail

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read through your query in detail. Bleeding through stool is a serious concern and must be evaluated in detail and treated early. Endoscopy reports (upper and lower GI) show no significant active bleeding in the areas visualized (attachment removed to protect patie...  Read Full »

Should I undergo further evaluation for polycythemia?

Query: Hello doctor, I am 27 years old male, 6 feet, and 180 lbs. I started a new job and the life insurance company wanted me to take a blood test. The results are attached. My blood test shows a low erythropoietin of 4.4 U/L (normal range 4.3 to 29) and high red blood cell count of 5.6x10^12/L (normal ra...  Read Full »


Dr. Girish Chandrakant Kamat

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your hemogram and erythropoietinlevels are normal. I would not evaluate you any further. They should not have asked for a hematology consultation, but if it is mandatory, get it done. All the best and do well in your new job.   Read Full »

I have high RBC count, low MCV, and MCH. Why?

Query: Hi doctor, If my complete blood count has high RBC value and low MCV and MCH values, what is the possible diagnosis for me?  Read Full »


Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. 1. High RBC count is called polycythemia. If it is persistently high, then the cause should be evaluated. Respiratory causes like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and cardiac causes can lead to secondary polycythemia. Primary polycythemia is a myeloprolifera...  Read Full »

Why do I have severe pain in my fingertips and toes?

Query: Hello doctor, I have had chronic bloating, indigestion, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea for over a month. During that same time, I developed frequent shortness of breath and palpitations with exertion upon waking and after eating. Also, during the same time, I began having severe pain in my fing...  Read Full »


Dr. Prakash. H. M.

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your query, my opinion is as follows: The serum protein and creatinine levels are a bit high possibly due to increased protein intake or associated dehydration in recent times. Monocytes are mildly elevated and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels are in the up...  Read Full »

What causes increase in the level of hemoglobin?

Query: Hi doctor, My hematology report shows a hemoglobin of 18.8 g/dL, hematocrit of 54.0 % and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of 34.7 g/dL, and red cell distribution width of 19.3 % (all are high). The other parameters such as RBC and WBC are found normal. I have a comment on the morphology o...  Read Full »


Dr. Mubashir Razzaq Khan

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. You have a condition showing an increased level of hemoglobin. Elevated hemoglobin is seen in smokers, in people living at high altitudes, congestive cardiac failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, some erythropoietin secreting adenomas of a kidney, and very rar...  Read Full »

My hemoglobin and hematocrit are high, and I get very anxious about it. What can be the cause?

Query: Hi doctor, I had my annual blood test done. On my CBC, my hemoglobin and hematocrit always come back high at the figures in the photo. Before two years, I had some tests to rule out polycythemia vera. They tested for the JAK2 mutations, which returned normal, as did the leukemia panel. My EPO and LD...  Read Full »


Dr. Mubashir Razzaq Khan

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through your data (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). Your hemoglobin is at borderline, but your hematocrit is clinically high. Elevated hemoglobin is seen in smokers, people living at high altitudes, congestive cardiac failure, and chronic o...  Read Full »

What does high hemoglobin count indicate?

Query: Hi doctor, My hemoglobin level is 18.70, PCV 55.40, MCV 120, MCH 40.70, RDW 8.40. What should I do?  Read Full »


Dr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Please share a copy of all your laboratory reports. These reports appear out of place. Do you have any history or diagnosis of polycythemia vera in the family or past history?  Read Full »

Can polycythemia vera cause high Hb and RBC levels?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 25-year-old male and have had high hemoglobin and RBC levels for over two years. Recently, I got a hemogram that again shows elevated RBC and Hb levels and hematocrit within normal. So my hematologist asked me for the JAK 2 exon mutation 12 and 14 tests. I am worried that I have...  Read Full »


Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your Hb (hemoglobin), hematocrit, and RBC (red blood cells) are high. The diagnosis is either primary polycythemia vera or secondary polycythemia. I require your total WBC (white blood cell) count and platelet to comment further. You can attach your reports; if you have...  Read Full »

My blood test results are abnormally high. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, I recently got my blood work done because of my symptoms. I have been feeling tired and having bone pain, nausea, and headaches. However, when I got my blood work back on the hematology section, my RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and MCHC all came back abnormally high. Is this something I...  Read Full »


Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. I have checked your report (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). It also shows high levels of RBC (red blood cells), hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. So your diagnosis is polycythemia. But it can ...  Read Full »

My hemoglobin is 17.3 g/dL, HCT 53 %, MCH 32.1 pg, RBC is 5.7 million per millimeters cube, ESR 20 mm/hour, and globulin is 3.5 g/L. Please advise.

Query: Hi doctor, My hemoglobin is 17.3 g/dL, HCT 53 %, MCH 32.1 pg, RBC is 5.7 million per millimeters cube, ESR 20 mm/hour, and globulin is 3.5 g/dL. Please advise. Thanks.  Read Full »


Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Answer: Hi, Welcome to the icliniq.com. I understand your concern. The diagnosis is polycythemia. Your hemoglobin level, RBC (red blood cell) mass, and HCT (hematocrit) are high—this condition is known as polycythemia. The causes can be secondary or primary. Secondary causes include cardiac problems, c...  Read Full »

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